Use public video cameras to deter crime, ID suspects

I am writing in the hopes that my fellow New Jersey residents will urge their legislators to support the use of public video recording.

We live in an age of technology. When used properly, that technology - such as video cameras mounted in public locations - can help identify criminals, deter crime, and provide valuable clues for investigators.

It was just a few months ago, in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, when a publicly mounted camera led to the identification and ultimate capture of an alleged terrorist. This will not bring back those who lost their lives, but it brings answers to those left behind - and hopefully brings justice as well.

One such camera also caught the image of a man following a woman in Surfside, Fla., last year; this was recorded moments before he allegedly sexually assaulted her, and the image was used to help identify him as a suspect.

Increasing the number of public cameras would only bolster the number of stories like this we see and hear on the news every day. It would set a precedent. Criminals are more likely to be caught, and hopefully less likely to commit the crimes.

Some may fear that legislation supporting public cameras may also mean supporting a "Big Brother" mentality, but it does not have to be so. If done responsibly, public cameras stand to enhance the quality of our lives and our communities.

One should not have to walk through his or her neighborhood with the fear of being robbed, raped or killed. If we have the technology to reduce those incidences, a failure to take action is not only neglectful, but borderline shameful.

Julian Dona

Freehold

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Use public video cameras to deter crime, ID suspects

I am writing in the hopes that my fellow New Jersey residents will urge their legislators to support the use of public video recording.

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